Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography.

The National Geographic Society is the sole source for the National Geographic Bee school-level contest materials.

To find out how a school can participate in the National Geographic Bee, or for information on how a homeschool association can register, please visit our registration page. We do not accept emailed or faxed registrations.

The National Geographic Bee is administered on a not-for-profit basis by the National Geographic Society.

Principals of schools in the U.S. with any of the grades four through eight are eligible to register their schools to receive contest materials for a school-level Bee. Homeschool associations may register to receive contest materials to arrange a Bee for support groups that are part of their association. If there is no homeschool association in the area, we may allow an official support group to register and conduct a Bee for homeschoolers in their area and/or county-wide. Contact the Bee office at +1 202 828 6659. The person who is designated to receive contest materials must be the person who directs the Bee and administers the qualifying test to the winner after that winner is determined.

Keep in mind that there is a minimum participation requirement of six students from the eligible grade levels in a school-level Bee. Also, the contest materials may not be in the hands of relatives of a participating student at any time.

Principals may write a letter on school letterhead and enclose the registration fee of U.S. $70 requesting that their school receive the contest materials. In their letter, principals may designate a teacher in the school to be the recipient of the contest materials.